Pipe joint



June 9, 1925.

E. TRIBE PIPE JOINT Filed July 1919 5 SheetsShet 1 June 9, 1925. 1,541,601

' I E. TRIBE I PIPE JOINT Filed July 7, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 74 w 6.73 3 Mn J June 9, 1925. 1,541,601

E. TRIBE PIPE JOINT Filed July 7, 1919 s Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented dune 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE]. j

ERNEST TRIBE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO'VICTAULIC COMPANY LIMITED, 0'! L0!- DON, ENGLAND.

\ PIPE oIN'r.

Application filed July 7,1919. Serial No. 309,110.

To allwhomitmayconcemr Be it known that I, ERNEST TRIBE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe joints, and has reference to pipe joints where internal pressure is utilized to maintain the joint leakproof. The invention has for its object to provide improved means whereby lengths of pipe can be expeditiously connected together and when so connected will remain leakproof under all pressure conditions.

An advantage of my invention of great practical importance resides in the fact that the pipes do not require the usual flanges, my invention being such that ordinary plain pipes can be arranged end to end and connected together. 1

The primary feature of the invention consists in the provision of a leak-preventing ring embracing the outer circumference of the pipes, this ring having flexible inturned edges and forming an annular pressure chamber bridging theunction between the opposing ends of the pipes, the pressure within the pipe operating to maintain the flexible edges of-the ring in lcakproof engagement with the outer circumference of the pipes. The leak-preventing ring aforesaid is, according to my invention, provided with an inextensible rim or outer periphery. This may in some cases be constituted by strengthening or rendering rigid, for instance, by vulcanization to a high degree, the outer periphery so that it is firm, but where high pressures are. to be withstood I prefer to house the ring in an inextensible drawings which illustrate theinvcntion.

In these drawings Fig. 1 illustrates in transverse section one formmy leak-preventing ring may take.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of ring.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing this ring housed in an inextensible housin Fig. 4 is a sectional view s owing my leak-preventing ring in position and forming the junction between two pipes.

Fig. 5 shows a slight modification where the ends of the pipe are recessed so that the outer periphery of the ring is flush with the outer circumference of the pipes.

Fig. 6 shows a joint adapted to withstand great pressure wherein means are provided for retaining the leak-preventingring in position and preventing relative longitudinal movement between the pipes.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6. and

Figs. 8, 9,10, '11, 12, and 13 illustrate further modifications.

Fig. 14 shows the application of my invention designed to provide for a more or less flexible pipe line, and Fig. .15 shows an extension of the principle outlined in Fig. 14.

Referring to these drawings throughout which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever occurring, the numeral. 1 designates the leak-preventing rlng having a relatively rigid outer periphery. At the ends of the ring are 1nwardly extending annular flanges, which are spaced apart, and said flanges are provided with flexible annular lips, which form inwardly directed extensions of said flanges,

and define inwardly tapering openings to receive the ends of the pipes, said lips being frustro-conical in form and having inwardly converging inner and outer surfaces. The ring 1 is preferably provided with an inextensiblc housing 3 which may be. of

' steel or other suitable material or as before indicated may. in some cases be of vulcanite or other material incorporated with the ring itself during moulding. The principle involved in making the joint is clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 from which it will be seen that the ends of the pipes 4 to be joined are pushed from each side into the ring 1 so that the flexible lips 2 cmbrace closely the outer circumference of those parts of the pipes to which the ring'is applied. In order to ensure close engagement of the flexible lips 2 of the ring 1 with the ends of the pi es, the inner diameter or the ring before t e ends of the pipes .are inserted is slightly less than the outside indicated in the drawings.

The annular recess 5 1n the ring 1 forms a pressure chamber bridging the junction between the opposing ends of the two pipes,

- and it will be seen that as the pressure in maintaining the ring 1 in position. One

the pipe line rises, the contact of the flexible lips 2 with the pipes 4 is more closely made and leakage is automatically provided against.

In some cases the leak-preventing ring with its housing or casing of rigid material alone may be used for it will be found that quite a substantial connection between the pipes can be made in this way, and where it is desired to provide a pipe line of the same diameter throughout, the ends of the ipes can be recessed as indicated at 6 in ig. 5. Such an arrangement would be quite satisfactory for pipes embedded in concrete or the like, for mstance.

however, to provide a retaining device for form of retaining ring 7 is-shown in Fig. 6

and consists of two half rings having an annular recess to. accommodate the leak-preventing ring 1. The outer periphery of the retaining rmg 7 formed by t band 8 w e two half rings is preferably tapered, and the whole is locked in ositionby an outer steel or like iiich is driven on to the taper as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. In order to prevent any longitudinal movement of one pipe relative to its adjoining one, the retaming ring 7 may be providedwith flanges 9 adapted to engage in grooves 10 in the ends of the pipes, or alternatively small flanges 11 on the pipes may register with grooves 12' in the lung 7 as indicated in ig. 7, which also illustrates how in place of the central locking ring or band 8 a air of rings or ,bands 13 may be applie to tapered end flanges 14 of the retaining ri1ig7.

K i 8 illustrates how the half rings forming t e retaining ring 7 may be hinged toether by a hinge pin 15 and locked by a ocking pin 16 adapted to pass through eye members carried by the parts of the ring 7 as will be readily understood. Fig. 9 shows how an undivided retainin ring 7 may be employed, the ends of the p1pes being pushed into position from each side and the retaining ring 7 then locked in position by grub screws 17..

A modification of this arrangement is shown in Fig. 10 wherein a number of serrated segments 18 are located in recesses in the ring 7 and locked in, position by set screws 19.

Figs. .11 and 12 show an alternative method of preventing relative longitudinal movement between the two pipes. Accord-' angular slots in the an es of an undivided retaining ring after the ashion of a bayonet joint. j

A still further method is illustrated in Fig. 13. This is much the same as that illustrated in Fig. 7 except that instead of flanges 11 on the pipes 4 loose rings 23 may. be provided and locked in position bysplit wedge rings 24 adapted to register in grooves in the pipes, or the rings 23 may each be in one piece split so as to be capable of being sprung over the pipes and into shallow rooves suitably located in the periphery of t e pipes. Where great security is desired, I propose,

flexible pipe line is required is illustrated in Fig. 15; In this case each length of pipe is provided with a air of ball ends 25 and the two halves'of t e retaining ring 7 with the leak-preventing ring 1 in position conform to these ball. ends, and it will be seen that very considerable angular movement can be provided for without sacrificing in any way the benefitsderivedfrom my invention since it will be quite clear that the principle of obtaining leak proof joints is, I

precisely similar in all the examples illustrated. In this connection it should be men'- tioned that the various examples liereinbefore specifically described and illustrated in the'drawings are given by way'of example only and do not exhaust the possible methods which may be adopted'within the scope of my claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that whatwl claim is 2- 1. A ring for forming a leak-preventing joint between the adjacent ends of two pipes,

iao

said ring comprising as a unitary structure aflexible body portion and flexible annular flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the body portion and forming with the body portion a reentrant fluid-receiving recess, said flanges having pipe-engaging walls projecting diagonally inwards toward the axis of the ring to form tapering pipe-re-J ceiving openings the ,smaller portions of which openings are of smaller diameters than the diameters of the outer surfaces of the to be received by them, and said pipes said flanges into sealof prising as a unitary structure a'flexible body portion and flexible vannular flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the body portion and bearing upon the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, said flanges forming with said body portion a reent'rant recess for receiving fluid from said pipes. said flanges before the ring is applied to the pipes having pipe-engaging walls projecting diagonally inwards toward the axis of the ring to form tapering pipe-receiving openings the smaller portions of which openings are of smaller diameters than the diameters of the outer surfaces of said pipes u on which the flanges bear, said flexible bo y portion forming a yielding backing for urging said flanges into sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, and a rlgld housing encasing the body portion of the P The combination with two pipes having their ends arranged adjacent to each other, of a leak-preventing jointbetween the adjacent ends of said plpes and including a ring surrounding the pipes, said ring comprising as a unitary structure a flexible bodyvportion and flexible annular flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the body portion and bearing upon the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, said flanges forming with said body portion a reentrant recess for receiving fluid from said pipes, said flanges before the ring is applied to the pipes having pipe-engaging walls projecting diagonally inwards toward the axis of the ring to form tapering pipe-receiving openings the smaller portions of which openings are of smaller diameters than the diameters of the outer surfaces of said pipes upon which the flanges bear, said flexible body portion forming a yielding backing for urging said flanges into sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, and a multiple part housing encasing the body porlebody portion forming a yielding -said bo y celvmg fluid from said pipes, sald flanges tion of the ring, said pipes 'and housing being provided with interengaging flanges and ooves for locking the pipes against substantial longitudinal movement with relation to each other.

4. The combination with two pipes having their ends arranged adjacent to each other, of a leak-preventing joint between the adjacent ends of said pipes and including a ring surround-ing the pipes, said ring comprising as a unitar structure a flexible body portion and flexibl e annular flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the body portion and bearing upon the outer surfaces of said ipe ends, said flanges forming with ortion a reentrant recess for rebeforethe ring is applied to the pipes havv in pipe-engagirg walls projecting diagonal inwards toward the axis of the ring to form tapering pipe-receiving openings the smaller portions of which openings are .of smaller diameters than the diameters of the outer surfaces of said pipes upon which the flanges bear, said flexible body portion forming a yielding backing for urging said flanges into sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, a multiplepart housing encasing the body portion of thering, and means engaging the parts of said housing for drawing them together upon said ring and for clamping them upon the ring.

D 5. The combination with two pipes hav their ends arranged adjacent to each 0 1e r, of a leak-preventing joint between thev adjacent ends of said pipes and including a ring surrounding the pipes, said ring comprising as a unitary structure a flexible body ortion and flexible annular flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the body portion and bearing upon the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, said flanges forming with said b0 y portion a reentrant recess for receiving fluid from said pipes, said flanges before the ring is applied to the pipes having pipe-engaging walls projecting diagonally inwards towards the axis of the ring to form tapering pipe-receiving openings the smaller portions of which openings are the outer surfaces of said pipes u on which of smaller diameters than the diameters of the flanges bear, said flexible bo y portion forming a yielding backing for urging said flanges into sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of said pipe ends, a multiplepa t housing encasing the body portion of the ring, said pipes and housing being provided with interengaging flanges and grooves for locking the pipes against substantial longitudinal movement with relation to each other, and means engaging the parts of said housing for drawing them together upon said ring and for clamping them upon the ring. I

6. A pipe joint comprising a leak-pre venting ring whose outer periphery is sufficiently rigid to insure the ring as a whole maintaining substantially circular formation, flanges proceeding inwardly from the ends of said ring, said flanges tapering to flexible lips of diameter less than the diameter of the pipes to be joined and forming countersunk openin s through which the pipes can be inserted and forced into engagement with the flexible lips whereby said flexible lips engage the pipes with tension and maintain a tight joint and prevent leakage, and flanges on said pipes .engaging grooves in a longitudinally divided retaining ring.

7. A pipe joint comprising a leak-preventing ring whose outer periphery is sufficiently rigid to insure the ring as a whole maintaining substantiall circular formation, flanges proceeding inwardly from the ends of said ring, said flanges terminating in frustro-conical lips defining. openings of less diameter than the diameter of the pipes to be joined and forming constricted openings through which plain ended pipes can be inserted and forced into engagement with the flexible edges whereby said flexible lips engage the pipes with tension and maintain a tight joint and prevent leakage, a retaining ring consisting of a longitudinally divided ring, and a binding ring for maintaining said longitudinally divided ring in position.

8. A pi e joint comprising a ring having a relative y 'rigid outer periphery, inwardly extending annular flanges, spaced apart, and flexible annular lips, formmg inwardly directed extensions of said flanges and defining inwardly tapering openings, the pipes having their ends arran ed in said openings and gripped by said ips, and a retaining rinforming a housing for the first named ring and comprising a lon itudinally divided ring held in position 31 a binding ring.

9. A pipe joint comprising a ring having a relatively rigid outerperiphery, inwardly extending annular flanges, spaced apart, and flexible annular lips forming inwardly directed extensions of said flanges and defining inwardly tapered openings, the pipes having their ends arranged in said openings and grippedby said lips, and a retaining ring forming a housing for the first named ring, and com rising a longitudinally divided ring held in position by a binding ring, said retaining ring having flange and groove engagement with the pi es to prevent detrimental displacement o the pipes relative to each other. I

In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

ERNEST TRIBE, 

